Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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DUCK, DUCK, GRAY DUCK
ALL CHILDREN (SQUAT POSITION) ARE IN A CIRCLE. ONE
PERSON WALKS ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE CIRCLE AND TAPS
EACH ONE ON THE HEAD, SAYING, "DUCK" ON EACH ONE.
WHEN HE HITS A HEAD AND SAYS "GRAY DUCK" THAT PERSON
MUST CHASE THE TAPPER. THE TAPPER MUST GET TO THE
OTHER CHILD'S POSITION IN THE CIRCLE AND SQUAT
BEFORE HE IS CAUGHT. IF HE IS CAUGHT, HE NOW TAKES
THE PLACE OF THE ONE OUTSIDE THE CIRCLE AND THE GAME
CONTINUES.
James Callow Keyword(s): COLOR: GRAY ; CONFIGURATION: CIRCLE
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Racing Chasing Fighting |
Date learned: 00001964-1965
DRINKING GAME
THUMPER: A GAME PLAYED BY FOUR OR MORE AT A PARTY.
EVERYONE FORMS A CIRCLE, EACH PLAYER PICKS SOME
KIND OF A MANUAL SIGNAL TO BE HIS OWN. STARTER BEGINS
GAME BY CLLING OUT, "WHAT'S THE NAME OF THE GAME?"
THE REST ANSWER, "THUMPER!" EVERYONE IS ALSO BEATING
ON THE FLOOR WITH THEIR HANDS. THE STARTER THEN GIVES
HIS SIGNAL FOLLOWED BY THAT OF ANOTHER PLAYER. THE
OTHER PLAYER MUST CATCH HIS SIGNAL, DO IT, AND THEN
GIVE SOMEONE ELSE'S. THE FIRST TO MISS MUST CHUG
A BEER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): CONFIGURATION: CIRCLE ; DIALOGUE
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Memory |
Date learned: 03-00-1970
BUZZ
BUZZ IS A COUNTING GAME. THE PEOPLE PLAYING SIT IN
A CIRCLE AND COUNT OFF. THE NUMBERS CONTINUE TO
LARGE NUMBERS AND THE PLAING STOPS ONLY WHEN
SOMEONE MISSES. SEVEN AND MULTIPLES OF SEVEN ARE
REPLACED BY THE WORD BUZZ. EXAMPLE: ONE, TWO, THREE,
FOUR, FIVE, SIX, BUZZ, EIGHT, NINE, TEN, ETC.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): CONFIGURATION: CIRCLE
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Memory |
Date learned: 01-23-1971
GEOGRAPHY
ONE PERSON STARTS OFF THE GAME BY NAMING A CITY,
STATE, COUNTRY OR OTHER TYPE OF GEOGRAPHICAL
LOCATION. THE NEXT PERSON MUST THEN NAME A DIFFERENT
LOCATION THAT STARTS WITH THE LETTER THAT THE FIRST
ONE ENDED IN. THIS KEEPS ON GOING UNTIL ONE CANNOT
THINK OF ANYMORE PLACES OR THE PARTICIPANTS GET TIRED.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): ALLITERATION
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Knowledge |
Date learned: 11-18-1970
HOT AND COLD
THIS IS A GAME FOR TWO PEOPLE THAT CAN BE PLAYED
ANYWHERE, ANYTIME. ONE PERSON MERELY PICKS AN
OBJECT. THE OTHER TRIES TO GUESS WHAT IT IS.
IF THE GUESSER IS WAY OFF, THE OTHER PERSON TELLS HIM
HE IS "COLD." IF THE GUESSER GETS CLOSE, THEN THE
OTHER PERSON TELLS HIM HE IS GETTING "WARM." OTHER
DEGREES SUCH AS "COLDER, LUKEWARM, FREEZING, AND
BURNING" ARE ALSO USED. WHEN THE PERSON HITS ON THE
CORRECT OBJECT, THEN IT IS HIS TURN TO THINK OF ONE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): TEMPERATURE
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Guessing |
Date learned: 12-00-1963
NEW YORK
YOU WOULD CHOOSE SIDES AND DECIDE WHAT THE OTHER SIDE
SHOULD DO. ONE SIDE WOULD SAY: HERE WE COME.
THE OTHER WOULD ASK: WHERE FROM? ANSWER: NEW YORK.
QUESTION: WHAT'S YOUR TRADE? ANSWER: ICE CREAM AND
LEMONADE. QUESTION: GIVE ME YOUR INITIAL AND SET
TO WORK.
THEN THE OPPOSING SIDE WOULD GIVE THE INITIALS OF THE
TASK THEY HAD CHOSEN FOR THE OTHER SIDE TO DO; FOR
EXAMPLE, "SSFSS" FOR "SEWING SOCKS FOR SEVEN SISTERS."
THEN THEY WOULD PANTOMIME THE ACTION AND THAT
OPPOSING SIDE WOULD HAVE TO GUESS WHAT IT WAS. WHEN
THEY GUESSED IT RIGHT, THE PANTOMIMING TEAM WOULD ALL
RUN; WHOEVER WAS CAUGHT WOULD HAVE TO GO OVER TO THE
OTHER SIDE.
Submitter comment: PLAYED WHEN SHE WAS A GIRL IN GLOUCESTER, OHIO.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; OHIO ; DETROIT ; GLOUCESTER
James Callow Keyword(s): ALLITERATION ; DIALOGUE ; RHYME: AABCCD
Date learned: 05-11-1965
WHEN A PREGNANT WOMAN IS NOT LOOKING, SPRINKLE SOME
SALT IN HER HAIR. IT WILL CAUSE HER TO ITCH HER CHIN OR
NOSE. IF SHE ITCHES HER CHIN, THE BABY WILL BE A GIRL.
IF SHE ITCHES HER NOSE, THE BABY WILL BE A BOY.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT SAID THIS WAS A FAVORITE SYRIAN BELIEF IN
PREDICTING THE SEX OF AN UNBORN CHILD.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LIVONIA
Keyword(s): SCRATCH
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Mineral BELIEF -- Use of object for determining number of children or sex of unborn P863.1 |
Date learned: 03-11-1972
AT A BABY SHOWER, IF THE BRIDE-TO-BE BREAKS A BOW ON A
GIFT, SHE WILL HAVE ONE BABY. IF SHE BREAKS TWO BOWS,
SHE WILL HAVE TWO BABIES; ETC.
Keyword(s): WEDDING OR BRIDAL SHOWER, I RATHER THINK.
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Number Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually |
Date learned: 00-00-1968
YOU CAN'T SEW A GARMENT THAT IS ON YOUR BODY UNLESS YOU CHEW
SOMETHING TO SHOW YOU ARE ALIVE, SINCE THE ONLY TIME CLOTHES
SEWED ON YOUR BODY IS WHEN YOU ARE DEAD.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; PEABODY COLLEGE ; NASHVILLE
Keyword(s): FUNERAL PREPARATION
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Daily Life BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 04-22-1969
WHISKEY HILL
IN AND NEAR THE TOWN OF DUBOIS (WYOMING?) THERE IS A
MOUNTAIN, CALLED BY THE TOWNSPEOPLE "WHISKEY HILL."
THE NAME COMES FROM THE LEGEND THAT IN THE EARLY DAYS
OF TIMBER CUTTING IN THAT AREA, THE LUMBERJACKS WOULD
GET EXTREMELY COLD IN THE THIRTY-BELOW WEATHER PREVALENT
IN THAT AREA. SO IN THE SUMMER MONTHS, THEY WOULD BUY
WHISKEY AND STASH IT IN PLACES KNOWN ONLY TO THEMSELVES
ON THE MOUNTAIN. THEN, IN THE WINTER, THEY WOULD BE
ABLE TO WARM THEMSELVES. NO TOWNSPEOPLE EVER FOUND
ANY OF THE STASHED (HIDDEN) WHISKEY SO NO ONE KNEW
IF IT WAS A TRUE STORY.
Where learned: NASHVILLE ; TENNESSEE, ASSUMED
James Callow Keyword(s): CACHE ; TEMPERATURE
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Formation PROSE NARRATIVE -- Explanation of a name |
Date learned: 00-00-1964
WORD ORIGIN
MR. FINK AND HIS BEST FRIEND THEY WERE IN LOVE WITH THE
SAME GIRL AND IN TURN THIS GIRL WAS IN LOVE WITH BOTH
OF THEM, SO THEY DECIDED THEY WOULD HAVE A BOW AND
ARROW DUEL OVER HER. MR. FINK ASKED HIS FRIEND TO PUT
AN APPLE ON HIS HEAD AND HE WOULD PUT ONE ON HIS AND WHO
EVER COULD SHOOT THE APPLE OFF WOULD WIN THE GIRL. AND
MR. FINK, THE BASTARD, SHOT FIRST AND HIT HIS FRIEND
RIGHT HERE (POINTS BETWEEN THE EYES). AND THEY JUST
ADDED THE "RAT" TO "FINK" AND THAT MEANS TO DO YOUR
FRIEND IN.
Where learned: NEW YORK CITY ; NEW YORK
James Callow Keyword(s): RATFINK--SLANG
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Explanation of a name |
Date learned: 07-25-1968
NOT LAST NIGHT, BUT THE NIGHT BEFORE,
TWENTY-FOUR ROBINS CAME KNOCKING AT MY DOOR.
I RAN OUT AND THEY RAN IN
AND THIS IS THE SONG THEY SANG TO ME:
SPANISH DANCER DO A SPLIT,
SPANISH DANCER DO A HIGH KICK.
SPANISH DANCER TURN AROUND,
SPANISH DANCER TOUCH THE GROUND.
SPANISH DANCER DO THE KANGAROO,
SPANISH DANCER SKIT, SKAT, SKIDOO.
Data entry tech comment: PUNCTUATION ADDED BY STUDENT EDITOR.
Where learned: OHIO ; NEW BREMEN
James Callow Keyword(s): INITIAL ITERATION
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
Date learned: 00-00-1972
TEDDY BEAR, TEDDY BEAR TURN AROUND,
TEDDY BEAR, TEDDY BEAR TOUCH THE GROUND.
TEDDY BEAR, TEDDY BEAR TURN OUT THE LIGHT,
TEDDY BEAR, TEDDY BEAR SAY GOOD-NIGHT.
TEDDY BEAR, TEDDY BEAR GO UPSTAIRS,
TEDDY BEAR, TEDDY BEAR SAY YOUR PRAYERS.
Data entry tech comment: PUNCTUATION ADDED BY STUDENT EDITOR.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; CHATTANOOGA
James Callow Keyword(s): INITIAL ITERATION ; MEDIAL ITERATION
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
Date learned: 00-00-1972
PROVERBIAL PHRASE
FIT TO BE TIED.
Submitter comment:
THIS IS USUALLY SAID, "I AM FIT TO BE TIED," MEANING
"I HAVE COME TO THE POINT THAT I REALLY DON'T KNOW WHAT
TO DO."
Where learned: KENTUCKY ; OWENSBORO
Keyword(s): ANGRY FRUSTRATED
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Phrase |
Date learned: 03-00-1972
NOT GIVEN
IT AIN'T THE 'EAVY 'AULING (THAT) 'URTS THE 'ORSES 'OOFS,
IT'S THE 'AMMER, 'AMMER, 'AMMER ON THE 'ARD 'IGHWAY.
Where learned: KENTUCKY ; MIDDLESBORO
Keyword(s): ALLITERATION
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor PROVERB -- Blason Populaire |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
PROVERB
MANY HANDS MAKE THE WORK LIGHT.
Submitter comment:
WITH MANY PEOPLE WORKING TOGETHER, THE WORK ISN'T AS HARD
ON EACH ONE.
Where learned: KENTUCKY ; OWENSBORO
Keyword(s): COOPERATION
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Date learned: 02-00-1972
"THE CROSS"
CROSS MY HEART.
CROSS MY FINGERS.
Where learned: TENNESSEE, ASSUMED ; MADISON
James Callow Keyword(s): ITERATION
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief C860.640 |
Date learned: 07-10-1973
WHEN THE WIND'S IN THE NORTH, FISHERMEN GO NOT FORTH.
WHEN THE WIND'S IN THE EAST, NOT FIT FOR MAN OR BEAST.
WHEN THE WIND'S IN THE WEST, FISHING'S AT ITS BEST.
WHEN THE WIND'S IN THE SOUTH, BLOWS BAIT IN FISH'S MOUTH.
Where learned: TENNESSEE, ASSUMED ; MADISON
James Callow Keyword(s): DIRECTIONS ; INITIAL ITERATION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Fish BELIEF -- Wind Whirlwind Hurricane Cyclone Tornado BELIEF -- Measure of quality |
Date learned: 07-09-1973
WHEN YOU SEE THE FIRST STAR OF NIGHT, MAKE A WISH AND SAY:
STAR LIGHT, STAR BRIGHT,
FIRST STAR I SEE TONIGHT
I WISH I MAY, I WISH I MIGHT
HAVE THE WISH I WISH TONIGHT.
Where learned: NOT GIVEN
James Callow Keyword(s): ITERATION
| Subject headings: | 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually. Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief Belief BELIEF -- Star BELIEF -- Prayer |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
IF I AM TO MARRY NEAR,
LET ME HEAR A BIRD CRY.
IF I AM TO MARRY FAR,
LET ME HEAR A COW LOW.
IF I AM TO DIE SINGLE,
LET ME HEAR A KNOCKING.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
James Callow Keyword(s): INITIAL ITERATION
Date learned: 06-21-1973